Etihad Player of the Year (2013), Premier League PFA Team of the Year (2013), Etihad Player of the Month (December 2012, January 2013)

Bio: ‘Always be yourself unless you can be Pablo Zabaleta’ is the oft-quoted terrace saying that sums up the standing the Argentine warrior enjoys at the Etihad Stadium.

Passion, desire and commitment epitomise City hero Zaba, who has donated sweat by the bucket load to stadiums across Europe and has literally bled for the cause before being patched up and carrying straight on.

Not short of ability to complement that fighting spirit, his attacking forays from right back are a regular feature of City’s forward threat while his crunching tackles and perfectly-timed interceptions have helped make the defence one of the meanest in the country.

Born in Buenos Aires, the defender began his career with San Lorenzo in Argentina as a midfielder before switching to Espanyol as a 20-year-old, after captaining his country to the FIFA World Youth Championship title in 2005.

Three years and 79 appearances later, City came knocking on Zabaleta’s door – his versatility in midfield and the back line proved invaluable to Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini.

A regular member of the 2012 title winning side, he wrote his name into the history books by netting his first goal of the season on the final day, scoring the opener on the most dramatic of afternoons against QPR.

Now one of the first names on the teamsheet at right back, the Argentina international has since lifted a second Premier League title and Capital One Cup with City and forever cemented his place in club folklore.